20 YEAR
DAY OF REMEMBRANCE In less than two hours 2,795 people were killed in all the attacks on the United States. Out of that number, 23 New York City police officers, 37 Port of Authority of New York and New Jersey police officers, 343 New York City firefighters were killed. Consider the fact that approximately 50,000 people work and are frequently in the area around the Trade Center. This a great testament in part to the New York Fire Department, New York Police Department, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police, for the countless rescues that were made to help reduce the number of deaths that occurred. At 10:30 a.m. while watching this all unfold at home on TV, I turned to my wife, kissed her and said “I got to go.” She hugged me and said, “I love you, be careful.” I left my home and drove to the fire house, met up with about 150 of my off duty brothers from the Newark, New Jersey Fire Department to volunteer our efforts. We were directed to the military terminal in Bayonne, New Jersey, to board a boat that would take us across the New York Harbor to the lower tip of Manhattan. As we boarded the boat, I remember loud voices and guys all charged up, ready to take on whatever was thrown at them. As the boat got closer to Manhattan the voices subsided. The only thing you could hear was the engines of the boat. The magnitude of this attack became very clear. Many tall buildings ablaze, large clouds of black smoke taking up what seemed to be the entire lower third of Manhattan. While getting off boat 7, the World Trade Center collapsed, hurling dust and debris in our direction. We worked our way up to Liberty and West streets,
a place I had been too many times, and I could not identify where I was. Looking over my left shoulder, there it was — what was left of it. The Twin Towers, two buildings that each stood 110 stories, reduced to two piles no higher than three stories. At my feet just in front of me were the steel steps from the observation deck from the 110th floor. I remember looking around, overwhelmed at 50 and 40 story buildings on fire, thick acrid smoke, and choking dust blowing all over. I could not at this moment believe I was in America. Like the song goes, “over there, over there.” Well I’m standing right here, that’s not the case anymore. Police officers and firefighters are now put on the front lines. This was the worst death and destruction I had ever seen. However, this was a place where I saw great humanity. Hundreds of volunteers, police officers, firefighters, iron workers, construction workers, doctors, nurses, and people from all walks of life showing up to lend a hand. I remember a man who was carrying a spray bottle of water and towels. He came up to me and washed the dust off my face and moved on to the next person never saying a word. There were people showing up with food and water. Why did they do this? Because we are Each Other’s Keeper. Captain Ed Griffith Newark New Jersey Fire Department Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager, and Board of Director
WE WILL NEV 16
The PFIA Protector • www.pfia1913.org
